38 Fiat Topolino build

[maddog]

Is your hiem on the frame end of your bones able to rotate . Ive forgot to use spacers and had trouble.

I will be using spacers but have not put them in. Plenty of room around the ball in the Heim. Thats not where the bind is coming from.

As bonehead says, it may be enough travel, but I am one of those guys that has to know why it does what it does, and so far I just dont get it. I will be spending some more time with it tomorrow and maybe it will become clear.

Thanks for the help guys, and if you think of something else, bring it on.

 

[maddog]

I did a little searching and learned something. Huh, imagine that. Split wishbones dont allow the axle to independently move. Makes total sense to me now that know whats going on. The movement I was getting was the slop in the loose bolts and the temporary (too small diameter) pins in the axle at the front of the split bones. Lots of stories of frame brackets breaking and sheared perch pins.

Its only been done on a zillion hotrods, so I think I will continue with my current design. I dont like the possibility of breaking something though. Ya never know, might switch to a 4 link before its over.

update-
Frame is fully welded, only missing a cross member and some brackets.

 

[Gastrick]

Your Topo is starting to take shape nicely Maddog. It really looks good.

 

[bob w]

Just think of the split wishbones as an "anti-roll bar". Then you can enjoy the flat cornering and not worry. As light as your Fiat is, the suspension parts are probably overbuilt enough to withstand the strain. As you said, it's been done a jillion times. I was in the woods in my back acre yesterday and I swear my Fiat body flipped me off for abandoning it there.

 

[maddog]

Its been done a zillion times or a Jillion times. I need the facts.
Thanks for the words of confidence, Bob. It makes me feel better.
Mine flips me off all the time, I just threaten it with more HP, then I ignore it.

Thanks Gastrick.

Update-
Made the 4 bar brackets for the rearend today. Not quite finished yet but well on thier way. Pics soon.

 

[maddog]

Got some things done.
Cut the rearend to correct width and got it hanging on its own 4 links. Confirmed the travel, pinion angle, and shock travel. The housing is only tacked together till I get the fixture made to weld it back together.

Exaust and water will be running through the holes in the cross members. Exaust 2 1/2" steel tubing and water maybe 2" or 1 1/2" aluminum or copper tubing.

Front spring is next.

 

[bob w]

Very high quality work. You're doing a great job of fitting all that stuff in a little package.

 

[loser77]

Hey what program is it that you used to make these on? I've been looking for something to do this with but can't find anything that does what I'm looking for.

Here are some screen shots from my 3D modeling program that I explored possibilities in while waiting for the new shop and a place to work on it.

Nothing special here, just learning what I could learn about what could go where and what it might look like.

I have 10 or 12 completely different models I have created and abandon over the last several months.

 

[maddog]

I use a program called SolidEdge. Solid works, Inventor and some others are ok too. It takes a couple hundred hours to get reasonable good but you learn as you go. I couldnt do surfaces (the body) untill I needed the body in the model, then I had a reason to learn how to do it.

 

[cycledog]

Really coming along nicely Maddog. You'll be driving before long.

 

[Boltbreaker]

Wow Maddog, nice work . Very impressive and well thought out.
Brian

 

[Gastrick]

Man that's really nice Maddog. Almost ashame to cover that up with a body.

 

[donsrods]

I've got to start looking back through threads that have moved on, I have been missing most of this one. Man MD, that REALLY is impressive. Not only nice work, but well thought out too. Lotsa stuff to pack into a little TOPO body, huh?

Don

 

[maddog]

Thanks Guys. Thats nice to hear.

Some more progress. Got the frame back in the car for final adjustments. Looks great so far.
Installed the front wheel studs in the holes I drilled for the front wheels I have. Did some machining on the Buick Hub and installed new wheel bearings. I also installed the F2 backing plates but there is a slight collision (easy fix) I will put those on later. I must have assemblied and dissassembled all those parts 10 times making everything work with everything else.
New King pins.
Started front spring perch that will also mount the nose of the body, low in the front.
I am going to put the stock louvers back on the hood. Then finish the opening all the way around the tunnel ram. I should look pretty smooth.

Thats all for now. I am stoked.

 

[maddog]

Here is one good headlight idea and one goofy one.

Can you tell which is which?

 

[maddog]

I needed to center the pinion in the car. After lots of measuring I cut both tubes off the center housing (Gound the welds and pulled them apart. The center section is piloted into the tubes).
I switched sides with the tubes and one of my 31 spline axles is the perfect length and the other needs to be shortened about 4.5" and that puts the overall width correct and the pinion centered in the car.
Its all tacked back together while I work out a few things and confirm everything.

I was a little suprised that just by flipping the tubes it would center the pinion and one of my axles just fit.. Couldnt have been much simpler.

I drilled nice 3" holes in the 4 plates that go on the rearend. When I went to install them, they wouldlnt fit!! The tubes on this rearend were 3.125" . I guess its a heavy duty one.

 

[zoooomer12]

changing hands

for anyone that has been following maddogs little topo and did not know he sold it.. just go to this link http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170422&page=5

at post #91 the new owner takes over the project and the blog..... he, is me.

 

[Bonehead]

Congratulations Zoooomer.

Yep, we new he sold it, but that is all. Read your HamB thread, looks like you are well on your way now. It is a fine project, and will be a hoot to drive. Thanks for posting up, and welcome to the site.

 

[Gastrick]

Glad to see it in good hands zoooomer.

 

[hotrod preacher]

welcome to the site zooomer! nice little ride ya got there!!